I don't think so. The game Everquest Next is being build with the players hence I think it is supposed to say "Your next" because it is our Everquest Next, the game we want it to be.
As for the article I, for once, actually agree with a lot of what is being said.
Your Next: Like That, But Different
Combat is here in Landmark! Is it everything we hoped for?
It's been pointed out time and again that Landmark enjoys one of the best online communities ever, and I must say I agree. Yes, there are those who have an unfortunate proclivity towards being entitled jerks, but really their crime is caring too much. Comparing these mild irritants to some online communities is like comparing a playful scratch from a kitten to stepping on a LEGO.
I'm happy and proud to be part of this community, and I hope that my words and actions contribute to supporting and maintaining this attitude.
Now, let's all kick the stuffing out of each other—I want to fight every last one of you.
Yes, PvP is here; it's the new thing the cool kids are talking about. While I appreciate and respect the reservations of some when it comes to this kind of activity, I would heartily recommend at least trying out the weapons with a trusted friend.
These mechanics and systems are, after all, what we can expect from combat all the way through to EverQuest Next. Your feedback at this early stage carries just as much weight as the psychotics among us who enjoy a little competition, so don't be shy, you have nothing to lose. Really—there's no death penalty yet, go nuts. (Before you start, yes, I am aware there almost certainly won't be a default death penalty in this kind of content. Let's just all share the hilarious joke and move on.)
Speaking of feedback, the response to combat so far has been extremely positive. Despite some teething problems with heroic movement balance and performance remaining an issue - the system is accessible, has the potential for enormous depth while remaining intuitive, rewards a tactical approach, has a high skill cap and is the logical choice when we consider the other core systems in EQN and Landmark.
So far it's logically sound. Unfortunately for us, this is not a purely logical enterprise, and there are those who expected a more familiar system who are now disappointed. Of course, it's absolutely fine to just not like something, but we do seem to be coming up against the hurdle of what we expect from an MMO.
As MMO players, we've been collectively yelling for a change in the status quo for years, so we shouldn't be surprised that someone finally took us at our word. Sometimes I can't help but think of the boisterous youth outside the pub after midnight, yelling ”Let me at ‘im!“ as his friends hold him back. They don't need to hold too tight, he's not struggling all that hard after all.
We often make a big show of being terribly dynamic individuals, but when we're put face to face we often instinctively choose the comfort of the familiar. That's got nothing to do with what games we play, it's just a symptom of being human.
Now we find our weak protestations have somehow succeeded in freeing us from the protective grasp of our mates, and nothing separates us from the bloke who spilled our drink but the lamp post light. Suddenly, we'd rather be at home with a cup of tea.
I apologize for all the British-isms, but you get what I mean; feel free to substitute cultural signifiers where appropriate.
The most important point of this, and the one that will become increasingly apparent, is that this unfamiliarity will be standard for these games. SOE is not kidding around when it says these games are different, it's not about marketing hyperbole or fluffing your precious ‘hype'. The people making these games are under a clear directive to create a new kind of MMO. They're succeeding so well in their task they've done it twice already.
If you think these systems being introduced are somehow a kind of outlier, or an addition to more familiar systems intended to create novelty, you are in for a surprise. The reason combat in Landmark is unlike other MMOs is because it needs to support and complement other systems that are even more unlike other MMOs.
So let's be accepting and welcoming with new parts of the game, as we are with the new players coming into it, and accept that some turns in the road may surprise us. Let's ask ourselves, if we weren't surprised, and challenged and invited to experience the new, what would be the point of any of this?
LockSixTime
